Quick-opening separable fastener



G. SUNDBACK.

QUICK OPENING SEPARABLE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, I917.-

l,340, 187. a ted ay 18, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. 7*

A TTOH/VEY G. SUNDBACK.

QUICK OPENING SEPARABLE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 14.1917.

1920. SHEET 2.

Patented May 18 2 SHEETS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIDEON sUNDBACK, 0F MEADVILLE, PENNSYLFANIA, ASSIGNOR '10- HOOKLESS FASTENER-GOMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

QUICK-OPENING SEPARABLE FAsTEnER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GIDEON SUNDBACK, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a resident of Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Quick-Opening separable Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to quick opening separable fasteners and has relation to improvements upon the type of fastener shown in Patent #1,219,881 issued March 20, 1917, whereby it is possible to effect practically instantaneous separation thereof independently of the slider, instead of depending upon separation by moving the slider in one direction, which has heretofore been the only means for opening fasteners of this type. Fasteners of this class were originally intended for relatively short closures for shoes and clothing, but have recentlybeen perfected by me in a form embodying interlocking members such as set forth in said patent which adapts them for long closures, such as tents, curtains, stretchers, etc. Many situations arise where the element of time in opening a fastener becomes important, such for example as in a vertical closure applied to a large tent, or aeroplane hangar, wherein it is often desired to open the closure very quickly in order to get a machine out in case of sudden emergency. Also, such a vertical closure may be longer than can be conveniently opened by the slider being manipulated by a man standing on the ground. Another situation where a quick opening fastener becomes of great importance is in a stretcher which is desired to separate under the patient with out necessitating that he be lifted or rolled off, and also where the passage of the slider in opening is obstructed. A cloth stretcher has heretofore been proposed in which tongues are interlocked by a cord or stick passed through the middle and which is withdrawn lengthwise'when the two halves of the stretcher are to be separated, thus permitting either half to be pulled out from under the patient without disturbing him. It is objectionable to open a fastener of the typeof said patent under a patient by moving the slider, and also such operation is too slow. It has also developed that the sheetings and garments of the patient, being pressed against the fastener, are obstructive Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed July 14, 1917. Serial No. 180,533.

to the passage of the slider and often become torn. If the type of slider which opens the fastener by pulling it in the direction opposite to closing is used, along pulling tape or string stretched parallel to the fastener under the patient becomes necessary and being always likely to get tangled up, adds more objectionable features. The fastener of this invention can be applied to a stretcher and can be practically instantaneously opened to enable removal of the stretcher without disturbing the patient. Numerous other uses for sucha fastener exist, and so far as I am aware, none of the prior art fasteners have commercially effected an opening independently of the slider.

The invention depends upon the combination of stringers carrying interlocking members capable of unlocking by lateral sepa ration of the stringers and independently of the slider in combination with a slider for closing which is removable from at least one of the stringers in order to permit quick opening. The invention is shown herein both in a form where the slider isremovable from but one of the stringers, in which case a stringer'lock may be provided, and in a form where the slider holds the stringers locked, but is entirely removable when the stringers are to be quickly separated. In the patent aforesaid, the slider has curved channels at a relatively wide angle permitting the fastener to open by laterally pulling the stringers apart, whereas in applications of this invention, such method of opening is undesirable because of the possibility of accidental opening under strain, and the slider herein is provided with straight channels at such a small acute angle as to have no opening tendency under lateral strain. Also, the slider and interlocking members have cooperating flat surfaces at a right angle or less to the lateral strain, so that the slider wings do not tend to spread or distort under strain, whether in looking or while locked. These features are only claimed herein in combination, being fully described and claimed broadly in a prior application filed byme.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a stretcher embodying the invention, having the slider removable from but one of the stringers,

Fig. 2 is a View of the closed fastener showing a separate stringer lock,

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the opposite end of the fastener showing a construction adapted for complete separation,

Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a detail of the fastener lock,

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a modified form of stringer lock,

F Fi 8 is a side view of the lock shown in Fig. 9 is a plan View of a slider separable from both stringersto enable quick separation,

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a slider,

Fig. 11 is a side view showing the slider closed, and

Fig. 12 is a side View showing the slider open.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1, 2, represent the halves of a fabric stretcher having the carrying handles 3, 3 slidable therein according to common practice, and each stretcher section preferably having its edge overlap in order to form a smooth surface and so as to cover the stringer interlocking members, when the fastener is closed as well as in the action of being opened and pulled away from under the patient. The construction of corded edge stringers 4, 5, interlocking members 6, arranged in staggered relation, end stop members 7, and slider 8, is in general like that shown in the aforesaid patent, except that the slider'is provided with practically straight channels at such a low actute angle to each Other as to prevent movement of the slider to open the interlocking members when the stringers are oppositely pulled, which action occurs in the fastener of said patent'by reason of the curved channels disposed at a relatively larger angle to each other. Also, the slider channel edges are turned in at a right angle, or less, as seen in Fig. 10, and the clamping or rear end of each interlocking member has its end at a right angle or less with the stringer, so that under lateral strain, these flat end surfaces of members 6 and the inner surface of the inturned slider edges will be included herein.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6, the stringers 4, 5, are sewed to the body sections 1, 2, on the under side, so as to properly position the body sections 1, 2. The stringer 5 is made longer than the stringer 4 so as to al low the slider 8 to move completely off of stringer 4, and stringer 5 also having a ring or other stop device 9 carried by the end stop members 7 to prevent the slider 8 from being completely disconnected from the fastener. Adjacent the upper end of stringer 4 each stringer is provided with a slot 10 through which is passed a U-shaped lock member 11. One wing of the lock member 11 is provided with a lateral extension 12 the right end of the slot 15 now being in contact with the extension 12 and stopped thereby. The locking bar 14 in this position turns downward to about an angle of 45. The locking bar can now he slid downwardly until the left end of the slot 15 is stopped by the extension 12, and thereupon the entire lock can be withdrawn from the stringer slots 10. Looking is effected by reversing these operations, the manipulation of this device being very simple when once understood. When the lock is applied, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the fastener can not open because the interlocking members 6 are held looked, as they can not open by lateral strains normal to the edges, or by diagonal strains, and the lock prevents unlocking movement of the slider. With the lock removed, the slider can unlock in the ordinary manner if engaged with both stringers, but that is not the purpose of the invention, although it indicates an advantage of the invention in that regular standard interlocking members and sliders can be used.

In cases where complete separation is desired, as in the case of the stretcher herein illustrated, instead of connecting members 37 as in Fig. 9, the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be used, in which the stringers 4 and 5 at their lower ends are each attached to flat plates 17. Each of these plates carries. a bifurcated lug 18 carrying pivots 19 to which are fastened plates 20, 21, these plates being cut away on their upper sides as shown so as to permit the plates 17 to swing'laterally outwardly and downwardly on pins 19. The lugs 18 are rounded as shown so as to permit this swinging motion. Riveted on the edge of plate 20 is a doubled over plate 22 having a slot 23 in its edge near the lower end. The plate 21 is provided with a hook 24 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, which hook passes through the slot 23. 25 is a guide and stiffening strip carried by the edge of plate 21. These parts separate readily upon lateral pulling, the hook 2 1 being last to separate and coming out of slot 23. In relockmg, the slider 8 is brought down on stringer 5 until its lower end is stopped by the upper edge 26 of slotted plate 22, the slider sliding over the lug 18 and pin 19 on stringer 5. In re-connecting, the hook 24 is put through slot 23, and the inner edge of plate 21 passes through the side slot in the slider. In this position, the lugs 18 are on opposite sides of the neck of the slider. If the slider is now pulled in looking direction, the lugs 18 enter into the channels in the slider and pivoting around the pins 19 bring the edges of plates 22, 21 into contact as shown in Fig. 4. The plates are subsequently brought together while guiding the adjacent interlocking members into interlocking position. Further movement of the slider now looks the members in the ordinary manner. The upper edges of plates 22, 21 are cut away and the mountings of lugs 18 through the pins 19 are arranged so as to allow a limited pivoting movement of plates 17 around the pins 19 to conform with the angle of the slider channels. The upper edges of plates 20, 21 thus act as stops limiting this pivoting separation of lugs 18. Inward swing is limited by the lugs 18 striking each other, but the meeting of the edges of plates 17 and 20 or 21 also makes an independent stop. This arrangement prevents any separation from the lower end and it is only possible to effect separation when initiated from the opposite end. The limitation of the pivoting movement by the plates 22, 21 prevents distortions and automatically guides the slider when moved in the direction of closing in the straight interlocking direction and thereby prevents the interlocking members from being brought into improper positions in relation to each other. The slider is provided with a pull 27, the latter being engaged with a loop 28, so that the slider can be positively pulled in either direction.

In Fig. 7, a clamping form of fastener lock is shown, which is quicker to operate, and obviates the expense of cutting slots 10 in the stringers. This lock consists of two jaws 30 adapted to embrace the interlocked members 6 and held together by a frictional slide 31. The dotted position in Fig. 7 shows the jaws released so that the locking clamp can be removed. To prevent loss of the clamp, it is attached to the body 2 by a flexible connection 32.

Fig. 9 shows a clamp form of separable slider enabling the slider to be quickly removed from the stringers, for quick separation. This slider consists of two spring jaws 33 each carrying one wing .of the slider as 34, andan intermediate guide piece 35 between the channels. These guide pieces 35 also determine the proper spacing of the slider wings 34. A slide 36 similar to slide 31 is provided for opening and closing the slider, Fig. 11 showing the closed position and "Fig. 12 the open position. This slider may be used either with the completely separable form shown in Fig. 1, or with the form shown in Fig. 9 wherein the like stringers 5, 5 are permanently connected by the connecting members '37. The slides 31, 36, are preferably pointed as shown, in order to provide increased holding power.

In some instances where separable sliders of this or other construction are used complete separation at both ends is not required.

In these instances, connecting members 37,

in Fig. 9, will be used. In the case of a long vertical closure for a hangar, for example, these connecting members 37 would be at the upper end and a fastening device such as 11 at the lower end and quick separation being effected simply by releasing the lock and sharply pulling at the ,lower ends of the stringers oppositely away from each other. lVhen the fastener is to be closed the separableslider will be-adjusted on to the fastener at the upper end as shown in Fig. 9, and the two halves of the slider connected. In the particular construction of separable slider shown herein this is accomplished by pushing clamp 36 into position as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. The slider is then moved in the ordinary way to progressively interlock the members. Instead of the (separate) clamp 11 to connect the fastener at the lower end, the slider may be left on the. fastener to take the place of the clamp. In this case stop members which arrest the closing movement of the slider are attached to the stringers at the lower end of the fastener. To open the fastener the slider is removed much in the same way as the clamp shown in Fig. 8 or the two halves spread apart or disconnected, and the fastener opened by pulling the two stringers apart. The advantage of using the particular form of interlocking members heretofore invented by me in the quick opening fastener of this application is due to their inclined head and socket construction whereby when locked and under strain, they wedge longitudinally of the stringers one against the other and absolutely prevent separation because of the longitudinal distribution of thrust toward each end; A lateral strain, such as that due to a patient on a stretcher, is thus in large part taken up by longitudinal tension on the stringers, in which direction they are strongest, and is not entirely I localized on the members subjected to the lateral strain. Since one end is held locked by the connecting member acting to prevent lateral separation of the interlocked members, and both the slider and the clamp hold the other end locked, it will be seen that there is complete security when the members are locked. Nevertheless, when the members are to be separated upon removal of the slider from at least one stringer, and opening of the look if used, the separation originates at one end and progresses the whole length of the closure far more rapidly and with less effort than is required in moving the slider. This is due to the wedging action of the interlocking members now facilitating quick separation of the stringers. As the situations where this fastener is to be used will permit more time for closing, the additional closing manipulations as compared with previous fasteners become negligible and do not interfere with its utility or advantages.

' What is claimed, is:

1. A separable fastener comprising two sets of separable members operating successively to lock and unlock, a slider for looking said members, and means permitting separation of said slider from at least one set of said members when locked to permit unlocking thereof independently of said slider.

2. A separable fastener comprising two stringers each carrying a set of members, each member having a transversely rounded recess and a projection cooperating successively to lock and unlock, a slider for locking said members, means permitting separation of said slider from at least one of said stringers when locked, and releasable means for preventing unlocking."

3. A separable fastener comprising two stringers each carrying a set of members cooperating successively to lock and unlock, a slider for locking said members, means permitting separation of said slider from at least one of said stringers when locked, and releasable means for preventingunlocking.

4. A separable fastener comprising two stringers each carrying a set of members cooperating successively to lock and unlock, a

- slider for locking said members, means per mitting separation of said s.lider from at least one of said stringers when locked, and releasable means holding the extreme locked members against lateral separation.

5. A fastener comprising two interlocking stringers, a slider for locking said stringers, means permitting the slider to be separated from at least one of said stringers when locked to permit rapid unlocking thereof independently of said slider, and means separably connecting said stringers to permit complete separation thereof.

6. A fastener comprising two interlocking stringers, a slider for locking said stringers, and means connecting the stringers Within the extreme closing position of the slider for holding the stringers locked.

7. A fastener comprising two interlocking stringers, each having a hole adjacent one end, a slider for locking said stringers, and removable means inserted through said holes and connecting the stringers within the extreme closing position of the slider for holding the stringers locked.

8. A fastener comprising two interlocking stringers, a slider for locking said stringers, and a separable end connection for effecting complete separation having one member interlocking with the other and IIMiVablG laterally through the slider channe 9. A fastener comprising two interlocking stringers, a slider for locking said stringers, and a separable end connection for effecting complete separation comprising one member adapted to carry the slider and a flat member interlocking with said first member and movable laterally through the slider channel.

10. A fastener comprising two interlocking stringers, a slider for locking said stringers, and a separable end connection for effecting complete separation comprising two members each pivotally attached to one end of each stringer, and one of said end members interlocking with the other and being flattened to pass laterally through the slider channel.

11. A separable fastener comprising two stringers each carrying interlocking members, each having a transversely rounded socket and projection, a slider comprising two wings mounted to move toward and from each other, and means for holding said wings together.

12. A separable fastener comprising two stringers carrying interlocking members, a slider for locking said members comprising channeled wings separable to permit disconnection of the slider from both stringers, and a sliding clamp for holding said wings together.

13. A separable fastener comprising two 110 completely separable stringers carrying intel-locking members, a slider for locking said members comprising channeled wings separable to permit disconnection of the slider from both stringers, and a sliding clamp for 115 holdin said wings together.

14. A separable fastener comprising two stringers carrying interlocking members, a slider for locking said members comprising channeled wings separable to permit discon- 120 nection of the slider from both stringers, a sliding clamp for holding said wings together, and a separable locking device for engaging the locked stringers to prevent unlocking.

15. A quickly separable fastener comprising two stringers, interlocking members carried by said stringers in staggered relation, each member having a transversely rounded projection on one side and a corresponding 130 recess on the other, and slider separable from at least one of said stringers when locked whereby to permit quick opening instringer en dependently of the slider by lateral separation of the stringers.

16. A quickly separable fastener compris ing two stringers, interlocking members carried by said stringers in staggered relation, each member having a; transversely rounded projection on one side and a corresponding recess on the other, a slider separable from at least one of said stringers when locked whereby to permit quick opening independently of the slider by lateral separation of the stringers, and a separable means for holding said stringers locked and preventing opening movement of said slider.

17. A quickly separable fastener comprisingtwo completely separable stringers, interlocking members carried by said stringers in staggered relation, each member having a transversely rounded projection on one side and a'correspondin recess on the other, and

a slider separable rom at least one of said stringers when locked whereby to permit quick opening independently of the slider by lateral separation of the stringers.

18. A slider for a separable fastener comprising separable wings, and a locking slide. 19. An end connection for a completely separable slider operated fastener, comprising a strin er end member, a cooperating d member separably interlocking therewith, one of said end members being adapted to pass laterally through the slider channel and disengage from the other memher when the slider is in position on said end members.

20. An end connection for a separable slider operated fastener, comprising stringers carrying interlocking members, each stringer carrying an end plate, an end member pivoted to each plate, one of said pivoted end members being separably engaged with the other end member and releasable therefrom only when the last of said interlocking members is disconnected.

21. An end connection for a separable slider operated fastener, comprising stringers carrying interlocking members, each of said members having end surfaces at at least a right angle to the stringer surface, a slider having straight channels at a relatively low acute angle to each other and inturned edges cooperating with said rear ends 1 of said interlocking members to take up locking strains without distorting the slider, and means permitting separation ofsaid slider from at least one of said stringers when locked to permit rapid separation independently of the slider.

Signed at Meadville in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania this 12th day of July A. D. 1917.

GIDEON SUN DBAOK,

Witnesses:

C. I. CLANcY, F. W. KILLAM. 

